2of27Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket past Milwaukee Bucks forward Thon Maker (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

3of27Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (15) and Houston Rockets forward Gary Clark (6) go after a loose ball on the floor during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

4of27Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) takes a 3-point shot over Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

5of27Houston Rockets forwards James Ennis III (8) and PJ Tucker (17) react after Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) was called for an offensive foul on Tucker during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

6of27Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

7of27Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (15) and Houston Rockets forward Gary Clark (6) go after a loose ball on the floor during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

11of27Houston Rockets forwards James Ennis III (8) and PJ Tucker (17) fight for a rebound with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

12of27Houston Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. (4) defends a shot by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

13of27Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers (25) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) go up for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

16of27Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova (77) defends a shot by Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

17of27Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers (25) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) go up for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

18of27Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers (25) reaches out for a loose ball knocked away by Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

19of27Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket between Houston Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. (4) and guard Gerald Green (14) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

24of27Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden, right, fight for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

25of27Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden, right, fight for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

26of27Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is defended by Houston Rockets forwards Danuel House Jr. (4), James Ennis III (8) and center Clint Capela (15) as he takes the ball to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Houston.Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The Rockets held forward Danuel House Jr. out of Thursday’s practice to save an NBA day with House close to completing his allotment on his two-way contract.

Even if House does not practice on Saturday, he could be out of NBA days by playing against the Cavaliers on Friday and in the back-to-back against the Magic and Grizzlies Sunday and Monday.

That would require that the Rockets reach agreement on a deal for a standard NBA contract or keep House in the G League, an option with James Ennis III back from his hamstring injury and Eric Gordon potentially returning from a sore right knee next week.

The Rockets have begun talks with House’s agent on a new deal, two individuals with knowledge of the team’s plans said. If House remains on a two-way contract, he would be a restricted free agent in the off-season.

House, signed when Chris Paul and Gerald Green were out with injuries, has started the past nine games with Paul and Gordon out, averaging 9.3 points on 52 percent shooting and 48.4 percent 3-point shooting as a starter.

Jonathan Feigen has been the Rockets beat writer since 1998 and a basketball nut since before Willis Reed limped out for Game 7. He became a sports writer because the reporter that was supposed to cover the University of Delaware basketball team decided to instead play one more season of college lacrosse and has never looked back.

Feigen, who has won APSE, APME and United States Basketball Writers Association awards from El Campo to Houston, came to Texas in 1981 to cover the Rice Birds, was Sports Editor in Garland before moving to Dallas to cover everything from the final hurrah of the Southwest Conference to SMU after the death penalty.

After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1990, Feigen has covered the demise of the SWC, the rise of the Big 12 and the Rockets at their championship best.